Operation Evergreen provides Ohio trees to military

FRAZEYSBURG, Ohio — American troops stationed throughout the world will celebrate the holidays with an Ohio-grown tree thanks to Operation Evergreen, an annual event of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association (OCTA).

In November, more than 100 trees will be donated by various Ohio Christmas tree growers and inspected by department nursery inspectors before being sent to soldiers serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar and Kuwait.

The trees will receive a phytosanitary certificate for international shipment. In addition to the trees, decorations will be donated by local schools, churches and veterans groups, ensuring the military units receiving the trees will have all that is needed to celebrate the holidays.

Donations

If anyone would like to assist with the shipping costs of $130 per tree or donate ornaments, contact the OCTA office at 740-828-3331.

“Hopefully the trees can bring a little bit of home to our troops who will be spending the holidays away from their families,” said Amy Galehouse, Operation Evergreen coordinator with the OCTA.

Trees for Troops

Operation Evergreen helps to kick off the Trees for Troops program that will collect approximately 16,000 trees to be delivered to the families of military personnel. Operation Evergreen is sponsored by the OCTA and has delivered Christmas trees to troops stationed overseas since 1995.